The acting is powerful; the movie is very slow-moving. It could have been dramatically improved by cutting 30-45 minutes. But the theme of the power of a cult in controlling a life and one man's success in breaking away is very inspiring.
Of course it was based on Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard—the boat, the medical scams, the past life regression, the belief that present behavior is the result of previous error, the conference in the desert, the enforcers who don't tolerate dissent, the questions that seem to come right off of the phony self-evaluation that one finds scattered here and there, the knowledge of the inner circle that the Master was a fraud, etc. etc.
But really, it applies to any cult led by one powerful man (or woman) where dysfunctional adults find a father or mother substitute in an all-knowing guru. Sadly, many never break free, but Freddy gives hope that it is possible.
I wouldn't recommend it to many of my friends because of the slow pace and the abstruse plot line, but for the right person it could be enlightening.
Of course it was based on Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard—the boat, the medical scams, the past life regression, the belief that present behavior is the result of previous error, the conference in the desert, the enforcers who don't tolerate dissent, the questions that seem to come right off of the phony self-evaluation that one finds scattered here and there, the knowledge of the inner circle that the Master was a fraud, etc. etc.
But really, it applies to any cult led by one powerful man (or woman) where dysfunctional adults find a father or mother substitute in an all-knowing guru. Sadly, many never break free, but Freddy gives hope that it is possible.
I wouldn't recommend it to many of my friends because of the slow pace and the abstruse plot line, but for the right person it could be enlightening.
Top Box Office
- 1.$70.2M
- 2.$35.8M
- 3.$23.9M
- 4.$3.2M
- 5.$3.0M
- 6.$2.8M
- 7.$2.3M
- 8.$2.2M
- 9.$2.2M
- 10.$1.2M